It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

bluebag

Anything below 16c can cause problems with blood clots, it's usually what kills people rather than hypothermia as such.

I try to keep the heating on a low setting to keep the room temperature above 16, it also helps to keep condensation and damp at bay.

Fruball

bluebag wrote: »

I found it easier to keep it low all the time. Last year the OH was off work ill for six months right through that awful winter so I had to keep the heating on all day.

I thought it was just me that did that!

I have found it really cost effective to keep it on all day, but set the thermostat low.

I turn it down even lower at night, then put it up a bit in the day. No idea what temp as my thermostat is seriously dodgy (now clicks on at about 10c and i know thats not right!)

I keep the whole house unchilled, rather than warm if that makes sense?

narabanekeater

no heating on here. Weve still the summer quilt on and im boiling. We must be very lucky here
DD and I had a girlie day today and went inot town shopping with her own money. She spent £14 in the disney store buying a gift for her brother and dolly for herself. She was able to count that money out herself from her 20ps. The cashier didnt look that happy lol
Ive a busy week this week with Uni so I shall bid you all goodnight and hope you all have a lovely 'warm' week

hellsbells45

ceridwen wrote: »

One here for one of the people that prompted me to take over Kittie's "Its getting tough" threads when she was no longer doing so - ie Big MummaF - as I recall Pup (ie your dog) getting fed on human food:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1315145/Is-pet-food-poisoning-dogs.html

by Rebecca Hosking (ie the woman at the forefront of getting plastic bags banned) - so I am confidently anticipating she will make good headway on getting processed dog food banned judging by her track record to date:)

Well, after seeing the result of going to a non commercial diet for injured kitten and the 3 others, I could'nt agree more. Kittie has put on weight, healed very well, and more amazingly is on the way to (hopefully) fully recovering his use of the front paw (does'nt happen that often) I put this down to the sprats - high in vit B12 and also the pigs trotters (collegen). The other cats are showing the benefit as well, although they all looked healthy, there coats are even better than before, they're not as hungry and I get clean bowls - unlike with the processed cat food. The Dog is feeling the benefit as well, she enjoys the 'kittie stew' and the poached fish and milk, not to mention all those spare bones.:money:

bluebag

Frugal wrote: »

I thought it was just me that did that!

I have found it really cost effective to keep it on all day, but set the thermostat low.

I turn it down even lower at night, then put it up a bit in the day. No idea what temp as my thermostat is seriously dodgy (now clicks on at about 10c and i know thats not right!)

I keep the whole house unchilled, rather than warm if that makes sense?

I didn't really find my gas bill was any higher than the years I used timed heating, but it made a great difference to the overall comfort level as the house never seems to get cold, but it's never hot either.
I have them mad valves on each radiator so if the kids are cold they can turn theirs up, but I've found keeping it 'unchilled' as you so aptly put it they seem fine with it.

muffin_man_7

when i had to phone up over my gas payments, i was worried they were too low at the time i was told its cheaper to have c heating on than gas fire and if i have it on low once the boiler has reached the ideal temp then it will maintain it but it wont use as much gas that way so i tried it and except for when i went out(i lowered thermostate to 15c) it seemed to keep house warm not too hot not too cold when the bill arrived i was dreading it being high it was in fact lower than the year before and that was with me only putting heat on when very cold or at weekends so i think i will still keep it of as long as possible when clocks go back at end october then start reading meter more than i do now don't want to waste gas but don't want a big bill
lindy-loo if you dont trust hot water bottles try putting them in the bed half an hour before boys go to bed then take them out thats what i did when my boys were little as they got older i'd move them to the bottom of the bed no probs as long as you take air out before putting stopper in and if you've got any glycerine put a teaspoon in the bottle the first time it makes them last longer don't ask me how i got told it by a little old lady when i was getting new ones many years ago it seems to work too

Charis

mardatha wrote: »

This is the thing with not using the heating - you get a damp house and you get ill. Dont risk it - cut down on the tumble dryer and use things like crockpots etc - but you must keep the house free of damp or people will start getting ill. Things like bronchitis and pneumonia can be hard to clear up.

Very true Mardatha. A close friend of mine lost her husband this year and it all began with pneumonia the previous winter. He was in his 50's. Damp houses also foster the growth of mould spores which in turn can cause problems with lungs.

Fruball

Whoop whoop!!!!!!

I have just discovered I can set my WM to wash with no heat I have always washed at 30 on quick wash, but now intend to wash on cold (except when its freezing or a really dirty wash, which isn't often with me and 2 little girls )

Should save me a packet and I know washing will still be clean as they wash in cold in lots of countries

ceridwen

Frugal wrote: »

Whoop whoop!!!!!!

I have just discovered I can set my WM to wash with no heat I have always washed at 30 on quick wash, but now intend to wash on cold (except when its freezing or a really dirty wash, which isn't often with me and 2 little girls )

Should save me a packet and I know washing will still be clean as they wash in cold in lots of countries

I'm not quite sure how that works - as my previous washing machine (a Zanussi - from when the Swiss still made them) lasted many years and was hot fill (so I ran the hot tap first whenever I started it up - to have hot water coming through the pipes). When it gave up the ghost recently I bought a German brand (Bosch) and its cold fill. The deliverer/setter-upper told me that all washing machines these days are cold fill. I assume that means that they heat the water to the temperature they want and then get washing?? (I know it gives the temperature on the programme panel one gets for any type of wash one sets). My general wash is 40C and it takes 50 minutes in total - so cant need long to heat up (NB: thats wash and spin only - the machine isnt a tumbledryer as well).

EDIT: Speaking of goods bought - does anyone know whether summat like this comes through as "ready to use" as it says in the photo?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0040BDH4Q/ref=oss_product

reason - I have just had one of those delivered - having made the decision "I'm never going to buy flatpack furniture again - only decent stuff which is all ready to use" - errr...and it isnt...ready to use that is. The handles are on the inside of the bits of wood they belong on and theres some sorta criss-cross cheapie wood thing at the floor level of the kneehole bit. I suppose they did this to help in transit - but wouldnt the deliverer be supposed to make the desk "ready to use" (ie swop those handles to correct place and remove the cheapie bits of "buffer" wood) - as some customers (me for instance) arent DIY people? Anyone else bought owt like this and know whether "the deliverer shoulda done it". ....

narabanekeater

Frugal I can mae you feel really goood regarding your cold washing. Ive just looked at my handbook for you at a cold wash on mine uses 0.10 total elec units and my quickest 30 degree uses 0.30 units an hour so based on you washing on a quick wash thats a 200% saving!
I do DD ballet kit on a cold wash just to freshen it up but having 2 youngsters I really need a 40 degree to get stains out and as DH does manual work I have to get the 'smells' out of his kit.
One thing I have notice and wether this is common I dont know if that if I do a cold wash I need to use liquid wash and my powder doesn disolve.
Well as with my post last night about it still being warm here we were very hot in bed last night so we took the quilt off. Because of DS illness the rads will be on when we need them but at the moment were just fine
Wishing you all a lovely Monday.